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carbonbimota
Joined: 06 Apr 2015 Posts: 11 Location: Colorado, USA
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 11:57 pm Post subject: SB8R Custom USA |
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After 15 years of modification, I can proudly share my 2000 SB8R in its completed form.
I sourced parts throughout the years and took off stock parts as they came available. I had an early on failure with a spare tank that I had carbon wrapped over the stock nylon tank. I learned the hard way that these tanks expand and contract significantly with heat. I left the bike in the summer sun for just a short time and the carbon weave of the wrap literally exploded at the seams. Very disheartening! I remedied the problem by sourcing an SB8K carbon tank and airbox and remapped the fuel system with a PowerCommander V to compensate for the revised air induction. The snorkels are purely cosmetic now, but the angular lines of the SB8K tank fit the bike better in my opinion. I was never happy with the plastic panels on the mostly carbon R and RS bikes so I remedied years ago with full carbon. I was also able to source an early production unpainted tail section and swapped that out.
Moto Corse, Dymag, Rizoma, and factory SB8RS parts swapped out as needed for the final carbon/gold anodized look throughout.
Because I may still adjust the 'paint' scheme, I had decals shown in these photos cut so I could see how they look. I'm happy with the top racing stripes, so I'll probably have those actually painted, then have the rest of the carbon clear coated. Otherwise, no further mods. I can move on to another project!
I have the original tail section and tank that I removed and stored when the bike had 600 miles on it. I also have a spare primered tank, and a set of unpainted side/belly panels if anyone is interested in purchase.
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Hursty
Joined: 29 Aug 2012 Posts: 319 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 12:56 am Post subject: |
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Welcome to the forum carbonbimota
That's a lot shiny carbon you've got there
Now how does it ride _________________ Hursty from kiwi land |
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Weed
Joined: 29 Dec 2013 Posts: 250 Location: Perth Australia
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 10:32 am Post subject: |
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It's always good to see the results of someones' hard toil over the years. Congratulations on a great job |
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brian
Joined: 22 Aug 2011 Posts: 3772 Location: Australia
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 11:16 am Post subject: |
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Wow, that looks fantastic mate. I love the look. Obviousy a lot of hard work has gone into the bike.
Nice work on posting the pics too _________________ '99 DB4 #104, '96 SB6 #1165, '94 DB2 J #652, '99 DB4 #088, '08 VTX1800, '93 ZXR750R M1, '95 ZXR750, '95 ZXR750 Race Bike, '94 CBR400rr NC29 Race Bike, '94 CB250, '49 BSA C10 250, '61 BSA A10 650, '89 ZXR750, '91 Ducati 851 |
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Evilchicken0
Joined: 12 May 2010 Posts: 2996 Location: London
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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Sweet, that must have taken a while.
You could move the fuel filler anticlockwise 1 bolt spacing and the filler cap would line up with the stripe _________________ Don't read everything you believe |
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carbonbimota
Joined: 06 Apr 2015 Posts: 11 Location: Colorado, USA
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the comments!
Hursty: Rides like a Carbon Dream! (No pun intended). 15 years and almost 2000 miles. Seat time has been regulated to my other bikes over the years.
Weed: Has been a fun project, thanks. Unfortunately, with Bimota's, it's not necessarily the toil involved, it's the money involved. Still worth all of it!
Brian: Cheers! And thanks for the assistance with the photo upload!
Evilchicken0: Good call on the cap. The threads on these can also effect the orientation of the line, just a matter of where you start the turn. I should have waited to take photos after aligning the cap properly, but was rushed by our second thunderstorm of the day. Had just gotten back from a 20 mile ride, fueled it up, parked it in the driveway and the clouds started to roll in again. Never dull weather in Colorado! |
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SpikeC
Joined: 20 Aug 2013 Posts: 450 Location: Portland, Oregon
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Posted: Sat May 30, 2015 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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Very nice! As long as the air intake tubes are just cosmetic, they would make good glove boxes! _________________ Spike C.
Portland, Oregon, USA
2008 Bimota DB5R
1965 Triumph T100SC |
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Jonny B Bad
Joined: 05 Dec 2009 Posts: 555 Location: NE London
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Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 12:52 pm Post subject: SB8R |
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That looks very nice indeed. I particularly like the way that you have highlighted the carbon, which breaks it up, but retains the bare carbon, which deserves attention as an artisan-produced product.
As regards the plastic tank, my guess is that the problem is the plastic started to absorb the water out of the ethanol in petrol, rather than the heat causing expansion. The answer is to coat the inside of the tank with a sealant to prevent absorption of the water.
How have you found the carbon tank? Purportedly, they are difficult to get to seal perfectly. _________________ What, Jonny's gone! |
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carbonbimota
Joined: 06 Apr 2015 Posts: 11 Location: Colorado, USA
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 2:43 am Post subject: |
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SpikeC: Indeed! The added storage space could come in handy for a few spares! Ha!
Jonny: Thanks! As Bimota was poised to compete in Superbike with the SB8R, it is believed that they used quickly replaceable plastic side and lower fairings for quick removal, and the nylon tank could take significant abuse in crash situations also conforming to race rules. Almost 2 inch thick nylon could be ground down in a slide without compromising the fuel inside. The nylon definitely expanded with the heat of the sun.
As a safequard, I had the interior of the SB8K carbon tank sealed before installing the fuel pump and mounting back on the frame. Tank is performing flawlessly. Good call on the sealant though. A wise decision for any tank material other than good old metal/aluminum. Cheers! |
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Evilchicken0
Joined: 12 May 2010 Posts: 2996 Location: London
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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Here you go
_________________ Don't read everything you believe |
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yb11reno
Joined: 14 Feb 2015 Posts: 111 Location: Reno, NV USA
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 7:39 pm Post subject: Sb8r spares |
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I'm interested in the unpainted side and belly fairings. Please pm me. I tried emailing you. Message is still sitting in my outgoing box for some reason
Jack _________________ Jack
Reno, NV |
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2bims
Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Posts: 7292
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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If you have a message in the outbox...its simply means the receiver hasnt logged on to read it yet...anything in sentbox means they have.... |
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